Method of and means for protecting envelops against surreptitious opening.



0 0 w 3 hm 8 F. d B t n B t a P H I. N; 0 T R 0 H P W 6 7 3 4 6 0 N METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR PROTECTING ENVELOPS AGAINST SURBEPTITIOUS OPENING.

(Application filed June 17, 1898.)

(No Model.)

132/.L MM 0? 5 mm mm ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM HORTON, J R, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO WILLIAM P. HORTON, OF SAME PLACE.

METHOD OF AND MEANS FOR PROTECTING ENVELOPS AGAINST SURREPTITIOUS OPENING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,376, dated February 13, 1900.

Application filed June 17, 1898. $erla1 No. 683,768. (No specimens.) I

To all whom, it may concern:

Be itknown that 1, WILLIAM P. HORTON, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Ouyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Means for Protecting Envelops Against Surreptitious Opening; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object of the invention is to prevent sealed envelops from being opened and resealed without detection.

The invention consists, first, in gluing a sealing-strip to the envelop across the sealed flap thereof; second, in making upon this strip a mark which will change its appearance when steamed or otherwise moistened, and, third, in gluing a sealing-strip to the envelop across the sealed flap thereof and in securing said strip by eyelets to the ends of the envelop.

It also consists in the combination of the envelop with a sealing-strip and means for securing them together, substantially as described and claimed.

Thedrawings clearly illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is an elevation of the backof an envelop embodying the invention, and Fig. 2 is an elevation of the front of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 33 of the two preceding figures.

Referring to the parts by letters, A represents an envelop of any desired construction, having, for example, the flaps a, a a and d Across the junction of these flaps after the envelop is closed and sealedis'glned the sealing-strip B. This strip may be of any desired material and of whatever widthgmd thickness that are most convenient. 'I prefer to make it of paper of ordinary thickness and have its width in the neighborhood of one inch. The strip is somewhat longer than the distance across the envelop it is to cover.

tener, which insure the strip being held in place should the adhesive effect of the glue be overcome by steaming, moistening, or otherwise. By the term eyelet I mean to include any approved form of rivet-like fastener. They should be of a style not easily removed without leaving an indication thereof.

The glue may be applied to the strip 13 at the time it is placed on the envelop, though I prefer to have the strips already gummed, so that a little water upon them at the time of applying makes them ready for use.

As hereinbefore stated, I provide on the strip a mark which changes color under the influence of moisture. This mark preferably consists of a line or two drawn by an indelible or anilin pencil. D indicates such a mark, consisting of two lines across the strip onto the envelop, the lines being made after the strip is in place.

My invention maybe used in any business where it is desired to prevent onetampering with sealed envelops. Itis particularly adapted for use by express companies in transmitting money or for registered letters. Here the receipts of the various persons handling the envelop render detection practically cer-' 'tain should any of them take the entire envelop, and therefore it is extremely desirable to have efficient means for preventing their tampering with an envelop and removing its contents.

With my improved envelop if any one 85. should tamper with it it would be evident to the next clerk who was to receipt for it, and the perpetrator would thus be at once discovered.

Having described my invention, I claim- 0 An envelop,lhavinga fiapseoured to its rear side. after the closing-flap has been sealed, and which strip. has its ends to merely overlap the front edges of the envelop, combined with suitable fastenings which are passed through the ends of the envelop and through the doubled portion of the strip, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM P. HORTON, JR.

Witnesses: I

PHILIP E.-KNOW LTON, L. O. SHIPHEBD. 

